Optometry’s Meeting® announces 2016 speaker, entertainment

Optometry's Meeting® 2016 is all about the stars as world-famous and history-changing luminaries align for two spectacular celebrations in The Hub.

Come join the excitement as Boston hosts the 119th Annual AOA Congress and 46th Annual AOSA Conference: Optometry's Meeting, June 29-July 3. This year's meeting features expanded continuing education opportunities—beginning even earlier Wednesday and ending later on Sunday—more time available in the Exhibit Hall, and as always, your profession's leadership in action, charting optometry's course.

This will be one holiday weekend that attendees will talk about for years to come.

This will be one holiday weekend that attendees will talk about for years to come.

Opening General Session - 5 to 7:30 p.m., Wednesday, June 29Long recognized for hosting the complete package of internationally renowned and outstanding kinds of keynote speakers, Optometry's Meeting outdoes itself with a presenter who's out of this world—and has the spacesuit to prove it.

Nearly 47 years after becoming the second human to ever set foot on the moon, former NASA astronaut Buzz Aldrin, Ph.D., delivers the keynote address during this year's Opening General Session. Recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the Congressional Gold Medal—in addition to numerous distinguished awards from 23 other countries—Aldrin is one of the most recognizable names of the 20th century for his heroism and devotion to going above and beyond in the name of science. Aldrin, a New York Times best-selling author, continues to chart a course for future space exploration and speaks about his passion for innovation.

Among the most anticipated events of the year, the Opening General Session, sponsored by Johnson & Johnson Vision Care Inc., also will feature the 2016 AOA Annual Awards Ceremony and messages from optometric leaders.

A Celebration of Optometry - 7 to 10 p.m., Saturday July 2Don't miss the fanfare Saturday evening as A Celebration of Optometry, sponsored by HOYA Vision Care, queues the stage lights for a "Broadway to Boston" performance, fusing New York's theater district with a uniquely Boston sound.

Broadway celebrity Laura Osnes, known from her roles in Cinderella, Anything Goes, South Pacific and Bandstand, will perform in concert along with Cinderella's Prince Topher, Jeff Pew. The Boston Children's Chorus and the Hot Brass Band will join both Osnes and Pew.

New York music director Steven Mitchell brings this fantastic, one-time ensemble to the stage as Osnes performs "How 'bout a Dance" and "Blue Medley," Pew performs "I Love a Piano," and the Boston Children's Chorus sings "Brand New Day" from The Wiz. Also being performed for the first time in history: "The Optometric Song of Eye Diseases."

Join colleagues to recognize the 2015-16 AOA and AOSA Board of Trustees, and expect a lively evening of entertainment to send Optometry's Meeting out with a bang.

Click here to see highlights from Optometry's Meeting 2015, and follow aoa.org/news for the latest information about registration and housing, opening early February.